Atlanta Journal-Constitution needs its D.C. bureau

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If you’re one of the biggest papers in the American southeast, not to mention the whole country, it’s good to have a few people in the nation’s capital. Just months after parent company Cox Newspapers ditched its D.C. bureau, much like many other newspaper publishers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is sending two of its people north.

The AJC — the 22nd-largest U.S. daily by weekday circulation and 13th largest by Sunday circulation — said on Monday that it named Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and editorial page editor Cynthia Tucker as political columnist in Washington, D.C. Her job starts this summer. She will join Bob Keefe, who covers national politics and other Washington news that is relevant to Atlanta.

A quote from the release:

“Our nation is facing historic changes and challenges, and decisions made in D.C. and those who make them hold great interest for our audience,” said AJC Editor Julia Wallace.

That’s not to say that Cox isn’t suffering along with the rest of the business. Last March, the paper said it will cut its full-time news staff by 90 people through buyouts, and may resort to layoffs. The AJC already has laid off some part-time news staff.